There’s a saying in Chinese that translates as “to owe someone a debt from a previous life” when someone unconditionally treat you so well that this can be the only explanation. This is a much better way than how I’ve been thinking about it: that with so much good luck and so many blessings in life, I’m going into debt which will need to be repaid in this life (maybe South Africa?) or the next.
Before I doze off on a flight where I get the entire row to myself (day made), I take so long going through my good fortune that I have to wake up and write this. Let me never forget or take for granted how well I’ve been set up in life from the word go. I’ve been handed a superlative education, wrinkle-free and non-sweaty genes that’s also not prone to obesity, a relatively liberal world-view, friendships that’ve steered me through imaginary first-world hardships, a generous, patient and thoughtful partner in life, his extended family every bit as wonderful, two cats that we’ve somehow tamed, and life has only just begun! I’ve basically won the lottery in life.
This pushes me to make something of myself (however belatedly) - to learn and to deserve all this love. It also stocks me with so much reserve of goodwill that I hope to be just as big-hearted as those that surround me; I already know it will make me resilient to challenges ahead.